Lansing Sun

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State head softball coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley announced the addition of former Alabama State outfielder Kendall Smiley on Tuesday.

In one season at Alabama State, Smiley made 57 appearances and started 55 games for the Hornets. Smiley was second on the team in batting, hitting .395 overall and .434 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) action. The Duluth, Georgia native was second on the team in stolen bases, swiping successfully on 23 of her 25 attempts. Smiley led the Hornets with 70 hits and was second on the team with seven triples.

Following her freshman campaign, Smiley was named First Team All-SWAC and earned the SWAC Academic Achievement award for her work in the classroom.

Smiley attended Duluth High School where she was named to the Class 7A All-Region First Team in 2023 after hitting .526 with 23 RBI as a senior. In 2021, Smiley ranked as the No. 46 player in the Class of 2023 by Extra Innings.

Alongside fellow incoming transfer Hannah Greer, Smiley is set to join MSU's nationally ranked eight-player 2024 signing class which includes Ava Coffinger (Richland, Mich.), Carsyn Cassady (Pataskala, Ohio), Ella Cunningham (Cleveland, Tenn.), Hannah Herman (Buchanan, Mich.), Jacey Schuler (Antioch, Ill.), Jordan Credeur (Georgetown, Texas), Natalia Kenyatta (Madison, Ala.) and Sophia Holverstott (Byron Center, Mich.), as a newcomer on the banks of the Red Cedar next season.